Latch.



No. 782,091. l PATBNTED FEB. 7, 190'5. H. M. WHITCOMB & S. J. MORGAN.

LATCH.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 2, 1904.

z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ttomegs PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. H. M. WHITCOMB & S. J. MORGAN.

LATCH.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 2, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` /Fgji 46 H9124 i0 W, QIPJ-M/zZ-Conz xtnesses wz. A C I .0r (m, Inventors,

Patented February 7, 1905.

UniTen STATES PATENT Ottica.,

HARRIS MORGAN lYHlTCOMB AND SAXTON JOSEPH MORGAN, OF ALBANY, \\'ISCONSIN.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,091, dated February '7, 1905.

Alpplication filed April 2, 1904. Serial N0. 201,363.

[o m7/ [N71/mt it 7111/7/ conc/uvt:

Be it known that we, Hamas MORGAN lViii'r- Conn and Sax'rox Josiciii Moiieax, citizens of thcUnited States, residing at Albany, in the count)v of (V'reen and State of 'isconsin, have invented a new and useful Spring-Latch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring-latches, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements in that character of latch disclosed b v Patent No. 582,565, granted May ll, 1897, to H. M. lVhitcomb.

lYith this object in view the pi'esent inveiition consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fullyY described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, it being' understood that changes in the form, proportions, size, and minoi' details ma)v be made within the scope of the claims without depai'ting from the spirit or sacrificing anyv of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings, Fig'ure 1 is an elevation of the latch of the present invention applied to a door. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4i is an inverted plan view of the bolt meinberof the latch. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the outer handle. Fig. T is a detail perspective view ofthe inner handle. Fig. S a detail view of the washer-plate for the inner handle. Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view of a modified Yform of the latch. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view thereof on the line 10 10 of Fig'. 9. Fig'. 1l is a detail perspective view of the modified foi'm of handle. Fig. l2 is a detail perspective view of the keeper for engagement by the latch when thedoor is open. Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the keeper for engagement b v the latch when the door is closed.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the di'awings.

duce a central 'longitudinal casing l and op- 50 posite longitudinal attaching-flanges Q, which are provided with terminal perfoi'ations 3 for the i'eceptioii of `suitable fastenings. The intermediate portion of' the casing is laterally enlarged and substantiallyv circular in form,

are extended to form ears 8, which are bent in\\'ardl vv to overlap and suppoi't a guide-plate 9, the latter being provided with a perforation ll). It will be noted that the front open end of' the front channel4. is terminated short of the front end of the blank 'from which the 70 casing is struck, there being a slit ll formed ti'ansverscl)Y of the plate at said end of' the casing and extended at one side thereof, a portion of the plate at one side of the casing and in front of' the slit being struck up to 75 vforni a loop l2.

Vorking endwise wi thin the casing is a slidable bolt 1?), formed from a single blank of metal, the sides of which are bent into substantiall \v parallel flanges l1 onopposite sides SO of the bodav of the bolt, so as to produce a substantiallyv rectangular channel-bar which operates in the Yfi'oiit channel e of the casing. At their forward ends the flanges are beveled,

and the extremity of the bar is bent back 35 between the flanges, as at l5, to give the desired bevel to the Vforward end of the bolt. The flanges ll are extended in rear of the bod)Y of the bolt and ai'e bowed outwardly in opposite directions, as at 16, into the central enlarged portion of the casing, and these bowed portions ai'e then bent inwardly to produce shoulders 1T, from which the flanges are extended rearwardly and brought together to forma stein 18, the rear end of which works 'lhe movable )arts of the )resent latch are l through the )erforation lO in the guide- )late a n x l n y housed within a casing which is struck from a single blank of sheet metal so as to pi'o- 9. A suitable helical spring 1S) embraces the stem portion i8 of the bolt and bears in oppolnterinediate of the ends of the front 60 site directions againstthe guide-plate 9,which forms the backing of the casing, and the shoulder 17, whereby the bolt is yieldably held in Iits advanced or locked position.

For convenience in operating the bolt there is a handle which is struck from a single blank of metal and comprises acentral circular plate member 20, from diametrically opposite points of which extend reduced shanks 21, the circular plate portion being depressed below the shanks to constitute a circular boss to fit within the circular opening 6 in the top of the casing. One of the shanks, preferably that at the front of the plate, is bowed or arched upwardly and rearwardly to form a handle-bar 22, the rear end of which is snugly gripped between the ears 23, carried upon an upstanding lug portion 24, bent from the outer end of the rear shank. The diametrically opposite end portions of the circular plate 20 between the Shanks 21 are extended to form lips 25, which overlap the inner side of the peripheral edge of the opening 6 in the casing, so as to prevent detachment of the handle, the edge of the opening in the casing being provided with a notch 26 at the rear side thereof and of a size and shape to receive one of the lips when applying and removing the handle. At the center of the circular plate 2O there isa slot 27, disposed longitudinally with respect to the bolt, and at opposite sides of this slot are inwardlydirected lugs or projections 23, struck from the plate and normally engaging the front side of the respective shoulders 17 of the bolt.

W'hen the casing, the bolt, and the handle have been assembled as described, the handle may be turned upon its bearing within the casing, whereby one or the other of the lugs or projections 28 will be moved rearwardly, and thereby draw the bolt inwardly or rearwardly against the tension of the spring 19. When the handle is released, the spring will of course return the bolt to its original position, and the handle will likewise be returned to its original position.

While any form of keeper may be employed in connection with the present lock, it is preferred to employ the keeper illustrated at 29, which is struck from a blank of metal so as to produce flanges 30 at opposite sides of the keeper-loop, said flanges of course being provided with perforations for the reception ofV suitable fastenings. At one side of the keeper there is a transverse slit 31, which intersects the keeper andone of the ianges thereof, that portion of the plate in front of the slit being bent up to form a loop 32, which is designed to lie adjacent to the loop 12 of the casing of the bolt in order that an ordinary padlock 33 may have its shackle passed through said loops, so as to lock the door against unauthorized opening.

To permit of the bolt being controlled from opposite sides of a door, there is an inner handle comprising a base 34, one end of which is bowed or arched rearwardly to form a handlebar 35, the rear end of which is connected to the plate in the same manner as described for the outer handle-bar. At the middle of the base there is a depression to form a central circular boss 36, which has diametrically opposite ears or projections 37 struck from the plate and spaced from the inner face thereof. A suitable spindle 33, preferably inthe nature of a flat bar, is secured in any suitable manner to the boss 36 and is designed to pass through an opening 39 in adoor 4() and enter the slot 27 in the outer handle, whereby the inner and outer handles are connected for simultaneous movements.

1n fitting the present form of latch to a door the casing is applied in the desired position to the outer face of the door and then the latter Y is marked through the slot 27 to indicate the position of the spindle, after which the casing is removed and a hole bored through the door, so as to receive the spindle. then reapplied to the door and rigidly secured thereto by means of fasteners passing through the perforations in the anges 2. A washerplate 41 is then secured to the inner side of the door, said plate having a central opening 42 to register with the opening in the door, there being a notch 43 in one edge of the opening for the reception of one of the ears or projections 37 on the inner handle when the spindle is thrust through the door and engaged with the outer handle. It will here be noted that the boss 36 of theinner handle fits in the opening' 42 in the plate 41, so as to form an eifective bearing for the handle, and the lugs 37 prevent'accidental displacement of the inner handle. In View of the fact that the face-plate 41 and the outer casing 1 are rigidly secured to the door and the handle members are mounted to rotate thereon, but are not detachable therefrom until the plate and the casing have been removed from the door, it is apparent that it is not necessary to fasten the spindle to the outer handle, as its engagement with the slot 27 is sufficient to connect the handles for simultaneous rotation.

A slightly-modified form of outer handle has been shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 of the drawings and differs from the preferred form in that the circular plate portion 44 is larger than the corresponding portion of the preferred form and is provided with aconcentric circular depressed portion 45, constituting a boss to enter the opening 6 in the casing, there being suitable lips 46 struck from diametrically opposite portions of the plate and projected at the outer edge of the boss normally in longitudinal alinement with the bolt, said lips being designed to underlap the edge of the opening in the casing, and thereby prevent accidental displacement of the handle. To receive one of the lips 46 in applying and removing the handle, a notch 47 is formed in the edge of the The casing isv IOO IIO

IIS

all of its parts struck Afrom sheet metal. so as to produce a very strong, durable, light, and inexpensive device, at the same time retaining all of the advantages of the heavy and nioi'e expensive form of latch disclosed by the patent above referred to. Furthermore. the sevei'al parts of the latch are arranged Vfor convenience in assembling' t-he same. and when they have been assembled they can be readily controlled by mai'iipulation otl either of the handle niembers.

To hold the dooi' in its open position, a suitable keepei' to is pi'ovided upon the outer side of the bai'n and disposed Vfor engagement sides of the latter being' bent to g'i'ip the handie-bar. I

ln a latch, aeasinghaving a circular opening, a slidable bolt within the casingand provided with a sliouldei' portion working' across the opening', a handle comprising' a plate having' a cii'ciilai' boss portion sti'iick thei'efroin and i'otatable within the opening' in the casing, said boss portion having' edge extensions lapping' the opening in the casing at the inner side thereof and also provided with a lug' struck from an intermediate portion of the boss and projected through the opening' in the casinginto coi'perati ve relation with the shoulby the outer handle when the door has been thi'own to its open position. This keeper is prefei'ably formed from a single piece of metal bent to forni substantially parallel shank portions it), the original bend being' offset or projected laterally, so as to form a shoulder 50, with which the handle is designed to engageand the extremities of the piece of metal are bent downwardly in opposite directions to form attaching-ears which are provided with suitable perforatioi'is to receive fastenings for securing' the keeper in place.

Having thus described the construction and operation of our invention, what we claini as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ish

i. ln a latch, a casing' having an opening and provided with a notch in one end of the opening', a slidable bolt within the casing' and provided with a shoulder working across the opening, and a handle including' a base-plate having a cii'cular boss struck therefrom and l rotatably mounted in the opening of the casing', said boss being' provided with edg'e extensions to lap the edge of the openingin the i casing', the notched portion of the casing' being' of a size and shape to pei'init ot' one of the extensions of the boss being' passed therethrough, and a projection struck lfi'oin and cari'ied by the inner face ot' the boss and projected through the opening' in the casing' and into coi'perative relation with the shoulder of opening in the casing'` a handle including a the bolt. v

VIn a latch` a asing'having an opening', a y

slidable bolt within the casing and provided with a shoulder for working across the opening, and a handle comprising a base-plate having a circular boss struck therefrom and rotatable in the opening' of the casing', said boss having' a projection struck therefrom and disposed iii cooperative relation with the shoulder portion of the bolt, one end of the plate being' bent outwardly to form a shoulder. and

the opposite end ot' the plate being' bowed or arched to produce a handle-bar with its free end engaged with the shouldei', the opposite der portion of the bolt, the edge of the opening' in the 'asing having' a notch otI a size and i shape to permit of one of the cdg'e extensions of the boss being passed therethrough, and one end of the plate being arched or bowed rearwardly to Yforni a handle-bar with its free end secured to the other end of the plate.

et. Vln a latch, a casing' struck `fi'om a blank of metal to produce ar longitudinal asing and opposite attaching-tianges, both ends ot' the casing being' open, the rear ends of the opposite sides of the casing being extended and bent inwardly to form ears, a perforate guideplate held between the ears, a slidable bolt working' in the casing and projected through the perforatioiis in the g'uideplate and a spi'ing' bearing' against the guide-plate and the bolt to yieldably hold the latter projected.

5. In a latch, a casing struck fi'oiii a blank of metal with the open frontend of the casing tei'- minated shoi'totl the frontend ofthe blank, the latter being' provided with a slit disposed transversely of the front end of the casing and extended at one side thereof, the portion of the blank in front of tlie slit being bent to form a loop, a slidable bolt cai'ried by the casing', and a keeper' bent from a blank of metal. the latter having' a transverse slit with the blank poi'- tion in front of the slit bent to foi'in a loop, the two loops lying at the same side of the bolt and disposed to come into registered i'elation in the locked position of the bolt and capable of i'eceiving' a padlock.

6. In a latch, a casing having' an opening therein, a slidable bolt in the casing and pi'ovided with an opeiiing' registering with the plate having' a boss struck therefrom and i'otatable in the opening' of the casing, said boss also having a projectionstruck therefrom and extending into co(' perative relation with the bolt, a second handle including' a plate having' a circular boss struck therefrom with end pi'ojections cai'ried by the boss, a face-plate having an opening' rotatably i'eceiving' the boss of the second handle, the edge-ot` said opening having a notch of a size and shape to permit of one of the projections of the boss being' passed therethrough. and a spindle cai'i'ied by the boss of the second handle and projected IOO IIO

through the opening in the bolt and engaged in the opening in the boss portion of the firstmentioned handle.

7 A latch-bolt consisting of a channel-bar having its sides extended in rear of the back thereof and being bent inwardly in rear ofthe -back to form opposite transverse shoulders and then formed into semitubular stem members disposed in mutual longitudinal contact.

8. A latch-bolt consisting of a channel-bar having its back extended in front of the side flanges and bent rearwardly therebetween to form a beveled terminal, the forward ends of the sides being beveled to correspond to the bent portion of the back, the side flanges being extended in rear of the back and diverged therefrom with intermediate portions bent inwardl y to form opposite transverse shoulders, the rear end portions of the side flanges being formed into semitubular stem members disposed in mutual longitudinal contact.

9. In a latch, a casing struck from a single blank of metal to produce opposite reduced guideways and attaching-flanges, the intermediate portion of the casing having a circular opening provided with an edge notch, a bolt consisting of a channel-bar working in one of the guideways with its side flanges diverged into the intermediate enlarged portion of the casing and then bent inwardly to form opposite shoulders with their rear extremities brought into longitudinal contact to form a stem working in the other guideway` a spring embracing the stem and bearing against the casing and the bolt, and a handle having a base-plate provided with a circular boss struck therefrom and working within the circular opening' of the casing, said boss having an edge projection lapping the edge of the circular opening in the casing and removable through the notch thereof, and a pair of projections struck from the boss and engaging the respective shoulders of the bolt.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence ofl two witnesses.

HARRIS MOR-GAN WHITCOMB. SAXTON JOSEPH MORGAN.

lVitnesses:

D. H. MORGAN, Gr. P. BILLINGs. 

